Think there's no adventure in being a regional airline pilot? Flying into the North Eleuthera Island Airport (MYEH) in the Bahamas looks a lot different than pretty much every airport back in the USA. We operate fully VFR in/out of MYEH, since there's no air traffic control or radar coverage. Plus, its single runway is only 6,000 feet long with no visual approach guidance from a PAPI or VASI. It's the perfect spot to refine your visual and hand-flying skills. The terminal has just one room, an outdoor boarding lounge, and no jetbridges. Being one of the most stunning Caribbean Islands, North Eleuthera is also very busy. You have to pay close attention to the uncontrolled CTAF (airport traffic) frequency to keep tabs on the location of multiple general aviation, airline, and charter flights into the airport.
Clear communication is critical while flying into this busy island. I've been flying with a Bose Aviation headset since I was a student pilot, and can't recommend it enough... Especially for days just like this, when tuning out the noise around you makes it possible to hear important radio calls from other traffic in the pattern. It's a purchase you'll use for decades to come. Click here to fly with Bose Aviation: https://www.swaynemartin.com/my-favorite-products
Our awesome ground agents will even order fresh seafood for our flight crews! Long story short, I love flying into places like North Eleuthera. It's a treat getting to fly into such a beautiful island and experience the challenge of operating an airline jet into a largely general aviation airport. Thank you to the ground crew in ELH for making our short turns into your amazing home so memorable!
Video Chapters:
0:00 Why I Love North Eleuthera Island
0:56 Flight From MIA to ELH
2:04 North Eleuthera Is A VFR-Only Airport
3:05 Communications Are Busy At ELH
3:56 Fly With Bose Aviation
4:27 Why This Airport Is Challenging
5:09 Time To Eat Fresh Seafood!
5:48 Airport Tour
6:12 Flight From ELH to MIA
7:35 Would You Fly To Eleuthera?
If there's something you want to learn about becoming an airline pilot, shoot me a message on Instagram @swayne.martin or leave me a comment below!
(Cockpit scenes filmed under Part 91 with approval of Envoy Air, Inc. Footage not recorded in chronological order.)
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Content Credit:
-@ohareaviation has a great YouTube for planespotting (credit for the B-roll shots of our Envoy Embraer 145s)
-AusinPilot and Daniel Piraino (Flickr) for the North Eleuthera Airport Photos
-Music Licensing: Artlist, AudioJungle
Thanks for watching!
-Swayne
Channel: Swayne Martin
Published: 2021-06-20
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I2fVJkzc6Q